HEVYDEVY FORUMS

I'd like to ask the ax masters 'round here a question re: Devy's tuning that probably has been brought up before.
How central to his style do you think his guitar tuning is?
Is it harder or near impossible to play his stuff in standard tuning?
I really notice his peculiar choices for note progressions. Would he have developed these kind of scales if he had started his journey in standard?
Just wondering.....

Deth Warmdover wrote:I'd like to ask the ax masters 'round here a question re: Devy's tuning that probably has been brought up before.
How central to his style do you think his guitar tuning is?
Is it harder or near impossible to play his stuff in standard tuning?
I really notice his peculiar choices for note progressions. Would he have developed these kind of scales if he had started his journey in standard?
Just wondering.....

The scales are very independent of tuning. They can be fluid no matter where you try and play them. And I don't know that he really "developed" any of them--that is, I can't say I've ever thought his choices were all that peculiar. Just the combination of a lot of influences and great musical intuition build the magic.

His stuff isn't too tough to move between tunings, although sometimes it provides for awkwardness (no surprise). But it's doable, for the most part.

One thing I will say is that his tuning is a cornerstone of his style. It's part of what gives him that open, deep, powerful sound. It's fantastic.

it's definitely a challenge to play dev's stuff in standard tuning, tuned below E flat or not

nrich wrote:it's definitely a challenge to play dev's stuff in standard tuning, tuned below E flat or not

Well, if you make octave shifts, you can work it. Obviously you can't be hitting many low C's tuned to standard.

I can't speak on behalf of anyone else. but have found that playing the open C tuning does bring out a different writing style in myself. The shapes and patterns in this open tuning make it possible to hit octave within the span of five frets on two strings. It is like having another instrument with different options. It is definitely beneficial in sounding more full because of the dissonance between notes.

example:
E-
C-
G-
C- 12 = C
G- 9 = E
C- 9 = A

The root note, then the fifth, then the 3rd on a higher octave. The third is spaced enough away from the root and fifth that even with high gain, comes in very clear and has a full sound to it.

E -
B -
G - 5 = C
D - 7 = A
A - 7 = E
E - 5 = A

Same chord, but the spacing between the higher octave A and C, or root and third, is less and makes for a muddier and cluttered chord. With high gain it still sounds good but doesn't have the same impact as the open tuning. Try it out.

Anyways, that is my .02

Open C tuning has a lot of benefits.

Most agreed. Open C does have benefits, but I find that standard does also. The feel I get from each are totally different, and my writing style often takes strange turns in each that it wouldn't in the other.

I like your .02, but just think that you can still get by in playing Dev's stuff in standard. It's better in its original element, though.

Most of 'Away' can be played in standard. Sounds great on a acoustic.